Category Archives: Newspaper Articles

“She Knew Hungry Joe”

04 Sunday Jul 2021

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From the July 4, 1899 edition of The Sun, another tale of “Hungry Joe”:

She Knew Hungry Joe.

Fine Young Woman Amazes the Park Row Newsboys.

“Hungry Joe,” the newsman whose eccentricities have caused Park row newsboys so much glee, leaned last night against a tool chest which blocks the sidewalk just below Beekman street, evidently meditating about the time he threw a rock at a boy in the middle of the street and broke a plate glass window behind him. A stylish young woman came along with her nose in the air and a messenger boy at her heels. She swung down the street with a straight-ahead gaze past “Hungry Joe.” She went six feet beyond him, then turned suddenly to look. She walked right back to him and smiled a smile that was a sight.

“Why, how are you?” she said in amazement. “What are you doing here?”

The rest of her words were lost in a cable car uproar. The newsboys hugged each other and said:

“Look at them di’mons!”

The young woman passed on in a minute and “Hungry Joe” shook all over, smiling very broadly. He lives in Brooklyn and has meeting clothes which he wears on Sunday, when his Park row friends would not recognize him. As for the newsboys, they tell about his bags of gold and coats lined with greenbacks.

“Hungry Joe the Newsman.”

18 Saturday Jul 2020

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From the July 18, 1898 edition of the New York Sun, a story about a newspaper seller who isn’t as he seems:

Hungry Joe the Newsman.

When in Brooklyn His Garb Differs from His Ordinary Wear.

The newsman at Ann street and Park row, who is commonly called “Hungry Joe” owing to his famished appearance, changes his garb and bearing when he goes home to Brooklyn. When parading Fulton street, Brooklyn, yesterday, he carried a silk umbrella and wore a black broadcloth suit, surmounted by a derby hat. He was scrupulously clean.

On Park row “Hungry Joe’s” business outfit is a hybrid basket and bag that contains his papers. His clothes are ragged and so faded that one cannot guess their original color. He wears no hat, and appears to be a tramp risen to the dignity of a newsman from desire for an honest living. His trade in papers is large and he makes a good living.

None of the newsboys dare compete with him. He carries a long club, a broom handle, and with this he argues the young idea into his way of thinking.

“Newsboy’s Swift Revenge”

09 Thursday Jul 2020

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From the July 9, 1899 edition of The Sun, a tale that could spark fan fiction:

Newsboy’s Swift Revenge

Murderous Assault Seen By A Crowd Near Bridge Entrance.

Driver of a Newspaper Delivery Wagon Stabbed in the Back of the Neck by a Youth Whom He Had Thrashed—He May Die—Assailant Chased and Caught.
A crowd of over 1,000 persons saw a newsboy attempt to murder the driver of a newspaper delivery wagon at 9 o’clock last night at Sands street, Brooklyn near the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge. “Over 500 of them pursued the would-be murderer as he fled, and, after a chase almost to the river front, were rewarded by the sight of his arrest.
Peter Peglies, 22 years old, of 29 Main street, Brooklyn, is the murderous newsboy. His victim is William Gibbons, 23 years old, of 66 Fulton street, Brooklyn. They had a quarrel in the afternoon at the Brooklyn entrance of the bridge over the number of papers Gibbons had furnished to Peglies. Gibbons managed to get in several hard blows on Peglies’s face and head before the crowd interfered and separated them to prevent further damage being done.
Peglies declared at teh time that he would have revenge, and warned Gibbons to look out. Gibbons laughed at the threats and taunted Peglies, saying that he could take care of himself easily with such an antagonist. This made Peglies all the angrier.
Shortly after 9 o’clock last night Gibbons was passing through Sands street on his way to Manhattan. In the meantime Peglies had armed himself with a knife and a razor. Knowing that Gibbons was to go to Manhattan, he lay in wait in Sands street for him. When Gibbons appeared Peglies pushed his way through the crowd after him.
When he caught up to the unsuspecting Gibbons, without a word of warning he pulled the knife from his pocket and made a vicious slash. The blade struck Gibbons in the neck, making a fearful gash. Gibbons fell to the sidewalk, and Peglies turned and ran, pushing the crowd aside.
The spectators were so amazed by what they had seen that they made no effort at first to detail Peglies. The sight of the bloody knife in his hand may have added to the disinclination to interfere. Just as he cleared the crowd and turned toward the river some one shouted that Gibbons was dying. Half of the crowd made a rush for Gibbons while the other half chased after Peglies, who was running like mad down the dark street. He was finally captured at Dock and Front streets by Policeman Lunny. The pursuers made no demonstration against Peglies when he was taken back to Gibbons for identification. Gibbons said he thought Peglies was his assailant because of the afternoon row and the threats Peglies had made, but admitted that he had not seen him before the blow was struck. Peglies was taken to Brooklyn Police Headquarters and locked up on a charge of felonious assault.
A call was sent to the Brooklyn Hospital and Dr. Parrish responded. In the meantime a policeman had partially stopped the flow of blood. Dr. Parrish bandaged the wound and Gibbons was taken to the hospital. On his arrival there he became delirious and tore the bandage off, reopening the wound. Dr. Parrish said last night that Gibbons was in a critical condition.

 

 

 

“It Is Jane Hanrahan’s Body”

03 Wednesday Jun 2020

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The Sun provides a little more information (really, just a recap of articles from the time of her disappearance) in it’s June 3, 1894 article about Jane Hanrahan:

 

It is Jane Hanrahan’s Body.

She was a Servant at the Newsboys’ Lodging House, and Disappeared on March 19.

The body of the young woman that was found on Friday on the shore of Governor’s Island was identified at the Morgue yesterday as that of Jane Hanrahan of 12 1/2 Washington street. The identification was made by an aunt of the girl. Jane Hanrahan was 20 years old, good looking, and quiet and reserved in her ways. She had been a servant at the Newsboys’ Lodging House in New Chambers street for sixteen months, but disappeared from there early on the morning of March 19.

On the same morning, and at about the same hour, passengers on a sound steamer that was rounding Battery point saw a girl throw herself into the river. The steamer was in too much of a hurry to turn back to see what had become of the girl, but it is conjectured that she was Miss Hamahan, and that she was drowned. The body found on Governor’s Island had been in the water too long to admit of signs of foul play being seen, if such there were; but her friends cannot believe that the girl committed suicide. They say though that she had several quarrels with the servants at the lodging house just before she disappeared.

Before she left the lodging house she cut off her hair. The body will be buried to-day in Calvary Cemetery.

“The Body of Missing Girl Found”

03 Wednesday Jun 2020

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The mystery of what happened to Jane Hanrahan, a former servant at the Duane Street lodging house, comes to an end, as reported in the June 3, 1894 edition of the New York Tribune:

The Body of a Missing Girl Found.

The body which was found on the beach at Governor’s Island on Friday has been identified as that of Miss Jane Hanrahan. Jane was twenty years old, and was a caretaker at the Newsboys’ Lodging House in New Chambers-st. On March 26 last Jane cut off her hair and mysteriously disappeared. Nobody was found who could account for her strange action, through her family declared there was foul play. From that day until Friday, when the body was found, not a word was hear of the missing girl. Her features were unrecognizable, but she was identified by means of her clothes.

Mrs. Hanrahan and others said yesterday that Jane’s life was insured in the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

 

“Youngsters Shiver in Park Fountain.”

27 Monday Apr 2020

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From the April 27, 1902, edition of the New York Tribune:

Youngsters Shiver in Park Fountain.

City Hall Bathing Season Formally Opened By Mickey the Angel.

Mickey the Angel, “Limpy” O’Brien, Spotty Puckerino, “Ginny” Murphy and “Spuds” Carrano, Park Row newsboys from nine to thirteen years old, formally opened the bathing season yesterday afternoon in the Tweed fountain in City Hall Park. There was a large and watchful gathering, but no “cops.” All the boys were barefooted, and most of them were burdened only with trousers and shirt.

“Youse ain’t going’ ter welch, be youse?” asked Mickey the Angel in a tone of supreme disgust as he led his Spartan-like band to the fountain and noticed that Carrano and Murphy held back.

“Aw, gwan,” said Murphy, peeling off his shirt and divesting himself of his trousers. This was a movement that all understood. There was a twisting of arms and legs, kinking of backs, and suppressed exclamations as the boys went through their lightning change act. Then five somewhat soiled and skinny young heroes clambered up the side of the fountain.

“O-o-o-o-ch, golly, it’s cold,” chattered Mickey the Angel.

“Souse down, y’ lobster,” said O’Brien with a great show of courage, as he ducked into the water and then shivered.

Puckerino, Murphy and Carrano, encouraged by the cheers and laughter of the crowd soon went under the water, only to look scared and pained as they realized how cold it was.

“Stay in! Stay in!” yelled the unsympathetic crowd, as the lads clambered out of the fountain.

There was no response. The boys knew when they had enough. Just as they darted for their clothes, some one yelled:

“Here comes a cop!”

It was a false alarm from a boy so dastardly mean that probably he will never be mentioned for the Presidency. It startled the shivering quintet, however. Carrano corkscrewed into his trousers and pulled his shirt on over his suspenders. Murphy carried his shirt across Park Row before putting it on, and all the boys showed a celerity equaling Sheridan’s cavelry at the battle of Winchester.

Five pairs of dripping, shiny legs twinkled across Park Row to a grating over a warm pressroom, the great homebound crowd soon swallowed them up and they were lost to view—but the bathing season was formally opened in City Hall Park.

“Risks Life to Rescue A Newsboy”

09 Thursday Apr 2020

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From the New York Tribune’s April 9, 1899 edition, a daring rescue:

Risks Life to Rescue A Newsboy

William Welch, a newsboy, fell into the North River yesterday while trying to reach the string-piece outside the Quebec Line’s pier, in order that he might watch the steamer Trinidad enter her slip.

Michael Hays, a hackman, employed at Savage’s Livery Stable, No. 194 Sullivan-st., seeing the boy’s danger, jumped in and succeeded in getting hold of him. A rope was thrown to Hays, and this he tied around the boy, who was pulled out by men on the pier. In the mean time Hays himself was drawn beneath the pier by the force of the tide and was in danger of drowning. He just had sufficient strength to fasten the rope thrown to him around his body. When they raised him to the pier he was in an unconscious state. He was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital.

The deed was commented upon by those who saw it as a heroic rescue. Had it not been for Hays the boy would undoubtedly have been drowned.

 

“Maybe This Was Jane Hanrahan”

30 Monday Mar 2020

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On March 30, 1894, The Sun provides a little more detail about Jane Hanrahan’s disappearance:

Maybe This Was Jane Hanrahan.

Jane Hanrahan, who disappeared from the Newsboys’ Lodging House at New Chambers and Duane Streets on Monday morning last, may have been the girl that two deckhands on the steamboat City of Lawrence say they saw jump off the Battery wall on that morning. The City of Lawrence was rounding the Battery at 6:10 o’clock. Deckhands Peter Maloney and Michael Connery happened to be standing on the forward deck, when, as they say, Maloney saw a woman who wore a white apron and had a dark sack over her head instead of a hat, walking toward the Liberty dock. She walked out on the pier, and after standing for a moment on the edge of the wharf plunged into the river. The men did not report this to the Captain.

It was 5 1/2 o’clock Monday morning when Jane Hanrahan left the House. She wore no hat, and had a sacque thrown over her head. Before leaving she cut off her hair. She also left her trunk, trinkets, and jewelry behind.

“Jennie Hanihan Still Missing”

28 Saturday Mar 2020

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On March 28, 1894, the New York Herald wrote a short blurb about the missing chambermaid:

Jennie Hanihan Still Missing

No trace of Jennie Hanihan, the domsetic employed at the Newsboys’ Lodging House, who, as told in the Herald, mysteriously disappeared after cutting off her hair, was found yesterday.

Among her effects was also discovered a tin-type of a young man, which nobody has yet been able to identify. Her mother will visit the Morgue to-day to see if her body is there. Meanwhile the New Jersey police have been asked to search for her.

 

(I posted about poor Jane Hanrahan a long time ago, an article titled “She Fled Without Her Hair.” I have several more scheduled to be posted this year.)

“Jane Hanrahan Missing”

26 Thursday Mar 2020

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The Evening World reported the disappearance of one of the Newsboys’ Lodging House employees on March 26, 1894:

 

Jane Hanrahan Missing

Cut Her Hair and Placed It on a Bed Before Leaving.

Jane Hanrahan, a chambermaid, twenty-one years, employed at the Newsboys’ Lodging-House, New Chambers and Duane streets, has been missing since 5.30 o’clock this morning. Her mother, Kate Hanrahan, of 12 1-2 Washington street, called at Police Headquarters this afternoon and asked to have a general alarm sent out for her. Her mother thinks she has become suddenly insane.

Before she went out this morning she cut off all her dark hair, and doing it up in a newspaper left it on the bed in her room. She wore a dark cape, thrown over her head, in place of a hat, and a dark skirt and buttoned shoes.